Box Score SHAWNEE, Okla. – Wayland Baptist rallied from a 13-point deficit, couldn't hold a late lead, then missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer as the Pioneers fell to Richard Shields and St. Gregory's University in Sooner Athletic Conference play here Saturday afternoon, 96-93.
The Pioneers (16-11, 8-8 SAC), down 48-47 at the half, found themselves trailing 89-76 with just over seven minutes left. As it's done most of the season, however, Wayland rallied, scoring 10 unanswered points to pull within three, then shortly after that making six straight – including a 3-pointer by
Jordan Tolbert – to take a 93-92 lead.
But after
Maurice Redmond's free throws gave the Pioneers the upper hand with 1:52 left, Wayland didn't score the rest of the game.
St. Greg's Stephen Walter made a pair of free throws with 90 seconds to go to put the Cavaliers (9-15, 4-12) back on top. Wayland then turned it over, but got it back when the Cavaliers missed a 3-pointer. Tolbert couldn't get his shot to fall for the Pioneers, then Zachary Lemusu connected to put the Cavs up 96-93 with 16 seconds showing.
With its final chance, Wayland put the ball in the hands of senior
Robert Waters, who has made more 3-pointers than anyone in the NAIA this season, including five this game. But Waters couldn't get his 102
nd trey to fall, and the Pioneers dropped their second straight following a four-game win streak at home.
Waters finished with a team-high 24 points while Tolbert added 21 points, seven assists and six steals, Redmond 18 points and
Jordon Johnson 10. Wayland shot 46 percent (31-of-68) from the field, including 7-of-24 (29 percent) from beyond the arc. Waters made all but two of the Pioneers' treys. The Pioneers were spectacular from the free-throw line, hitting 24-of-27 (89 percent) including 7-of-9 from Waters and 6-of-6 from Tolbert.
The Pioneers had no answer for Shields, who put up 41 points, including 14-of-15 foul shots, and had 11 rebounds. Walter added 15 points, Kevin Ritchie 11 and Lemusu 10. The Cavaliers hit 31-of-71 (44 percent) from the floor, 9-of-20 (45 percent) from long range, and 25-of-31 free throws (81 percent).
Wayland out-rebounded St. Greg's, 26-24, and with 14 turnovers had four fewer than the Cavs.
The Pioneers, now standing seventh in the league standings, play out the regular-season at home next week, hosting fourth-place Southwestern Assemblies of God (18-10, 9-7) at 8 p.m. Thursday then league-leading Texas Wesleyan (23-4, 14-2), ranked No. 7, at 3 p.m. Saturday. Wesleyan won at SAGU on Saturday, 78-66.
Earlier this season on the road, Wayland lost to Wesleyan, 86-84, and beat SAGU, then ranked No. 16, 76-75.
